GROWING pains were in full display for Team Pilipinas as it bowed to Jordan, 98-92, in its first tuneup game on Monday ahead of the fifth window of the 2019 Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers.
Zaid Abbas punished the Filipinos' defense with his hot-shooting from deep as the veteran campaigner drilled a pair of timely three-pointers that all but iced the win for the visitors, 94-85, with 51.3 seconds left.
Jayson Castro and Marcio Lassiter tried to will the Philippines back into the game, cutting the Jordanians' lead down to four, 96-92 with 11.9 ticks left, but the hosts simply ran out of time.
The Philippines will get a chance at a quick payback when it meets Jordan anew on Wednesday, also at the Meralco Gym.
All 20 players in Yeng Guiao's pool are expected to suit up in the rematch, which would be the first for Ginebra players Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, LA Tenorio, and Scottie Thompson, as well as 7-foot-1 prodigy Kai Sotto.
Abbas punched 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, while Mousa Al Awadi got 18 for Jordan.
Christian Standhardinger paced the Philippines with 21 points, Lassiter got 14, and Castro added 13 for the hosts.
The scores:
JORDAN 98 - Abbas 24, Al Awadi 18, Abu Hawwas 16, Dentmon 11, Hussein 10, Obeid 8, Abuwazaneh 8, Kanaan 3, Abdeen 0, Alhamarsheh 0, Dasuq 0, Hasoneh 0, Eid 0.
PHILIPPINES 92 - Standhardinger 21, Lassiter 14, Castro 13, Belga 7, Rosario 7, Wright 7, Fajardo 6, Cabagnot 5, Santos 5, Erram 4, Rivero 4, Norwood 0.
Quarters: 25-13, 46-44, 70-67, 98-82.
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